A Guide To Cute and Comfortable Holiday Eating Clothes

It's tough balancing formality and comfort during the holidays. Part of you wants to dress up and be fancy, but another, perhaps more insistent part really just wants to roll up to dinner in sweats, bunny slippers, and a slanket. What you need are some quality eating clothes — cute, comfortable clothes that won't leave you feeling bound after you gorge yourself on turkey and pie. Here are 7 options guaranteed to keep you cozy and chic this holiday season.

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1. Silky Pajama Separates
A full PJ set is probably a bit casual for a big holiday dinner, but that doesn't mean the top and bottom can't work as separates. Pair a pajama top with fitted pants or skinny jeans and a cute ballet flat for a laid back look that's still appropriate for the occasion, or wear the bottoms with a slinky tank, a structured blazer, and some sky high heels for a look that's a little more formal, but just as comfy. The important thing is to make sure you're wearing the right kind of PJs. Focus on the details: a crisp print, contrast piping, and a good drape. If you don't want to spend the money on real silk look for a synthetic blend fabric that's a little slinky. 100% cotton is not an option.

2. Jersey Maxi Skirts
Jersey is always a comfy option, but a jersey mini skirt is a little flimsy for a big family dinner. A maxi, on the other hand, is just as comfortable but the length makes it appear more formal. Choose a skirt with a sleek silhouette — no pleats or gathered hems — that ends as close to the ground as possible without pooling on the floor. Pair your maxi with something loose like a chunky sweater that covers the skirt's waistband and then dress the look up with high heels and jewelry.

3. Slippers
Heels are great and all, but holiday celebrations are long and you spend a lot of time on your feet when you're not actually eating. These slippers are as cute as any pair of flats, but they are lined with cozy, fuzzy wool, giving you the feel of an Ugg without the sartorial shame.

4. Faux Leather Skirts
Sometimes what makes a good piece of eating clothing isn't comfort, but ease of clean up. Face it, every time you sit down to a big meal — multiple courses, bottles of wine, sides passed around from person to person, serving spoons and ladles — the likelihood of spillage goes way, way up, and those holiday stains can be tenacious (I'm talking to you, gravy). Well, you can't stain pleather. If something gets spilled in your lap, you just give it a little swipe with your napkin and you're spick and span. So go wild, get sloppy, drink straight from the gravy boat if you want. If you make a real mess of things you can always just hose yourself off in the back yard.

5. Knit Dresses
Knit dresses make great eating clothes. They hug the body in all the right places and they stretch so you never feel like your stomach is being cinched in a tourniquet. Just make sure the fabric is thick enough that the dress doesn't cling unflatteringly to any bulges you may develop over the course of the meal — in other words, no jersey. Also, stick to dark colors and prints for additional camouflage.

6. Elasticated Pants
If pajama pants are a little too casual for you, there are some great elastic-waist pants out there that are super comfortable, but look a little more formal. Steer clear of pants with external drawstrings, since those can start to look like sweats. You can also look for pants with a regular closure in the front and elastic around the back — that way you can just tuck in the front of your shirt and no one will ever even know your waist band comes with extra stretch.

Have you ever noticed how you get sort of cold after a big meal? It's because all your blood is rushing to your stomach to help digest your food, leaving less of it to heat your extremities. What you need now is a big, cozy sweater and a cup of something warm. Just curl up on the couch and slip into a happy little food coma. You deserve it.